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American Dramatists Series 

A LIGHT FROM 
ANOTHER WORLD 

A Play in One Act 



C. H. McGURRIN 




BOSTON: THE GORHAM PRESS 

TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 



Copyright, 1915, by C. H. McGurrin 



All Rights Reserved 



s* s 






The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



MAR -8 1915 

©CI.D 39890 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 



CHARACTERS 



Eleanor Withington 
"Spike" Puffer 
Billings, a Footman 



Scene 

Drawing room at the Withington Mansion, Fifth 
Avenue, N. Y. 

Stage Setting — L. C. Beautiful stair case leading 
to landing high enough to run L. from entrance 
from hall across entire back of stage. Under landing 
C. large double opening showing lower hall running 
off L. Mantel L. 2 set obliquely. Small chair im- 
mediately R. of entrance from hall. Large table 
L. C. well down stage. R. of table, chair. R. C. 
small table on which telephone stands. L. of tele- 
phone table, chair. Other appropriate furnishings 
and decorations. 

The room is magnificently furnished, with gilt 
furniture, costly hangings, rare pictures, pieces of 
statuary and everything indicating refinement of 
taste, wealth and luxury. 

A gilt clock on the mantel indicates the hour of 
7:45. 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER 
WORLD 

On rise of curtain, tnter Eleanor Withington t , 
from stairs. She is dressed for the opera. Has a 
letter in her hand which she opens: 

Eleanor 

From brother Bob — and a special delivery too. 
Surely it must be very important. (She goes to 
chair R. of larger table.) 

(She opens letter and reads) : 
"Dear Sis: 

"I'm in a peck of trouble/' (Aside) Same old 
story. "In fact it's simply awful." (Aside) Graci- 
ous! This IS serious. "You see it was this way: 
I went down to New York last Thursday with the 
squad — the day we played Columbia. Now, I know 
it was fearfully shabby of me not to run up to see 
you all even for a minute — but I didn't — didn't 
even call you up. The truth is I didn't want the 
Governor to know that I came down. Well, after 
the game we celebrated. I remember when we began 
the celebration — but — that's about all. You can 

7 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

imagine the rest. Sometime before morning a few 
of us were in the Bowery district playing cards. I 
lost what little money I had with me and all I could 
borrow from the fellows besides. Then it seems I 
began to draw checks on an imaginary bank account. 
I gave two checks — for a thousand dollars each — to 
someone. I had forgotten all about this feature 
of the evening's entertainment until I was forcibly 
reminded of it this afternoon when I had a call from 
an individual , one ' Spike' Puffer — as he calls him- 
self — a resident of the district, a typical Bowery 
sport, who claims to be the owner of the checks. 
He demanded immediate payment. I pleaded 
with him for time — and reasoned with him as hard 
as I could. I promised to pay — but the more I 
showed a desire to be decent and settle the matter 
quietly, the more boisterous he became, and he 
threatened to put the matter in the hands of the dis- 
trict attorney. I finally got him to promise to call 
at the house to-night, to see the Governor — I did 
this so that you might see him first and arrange it 
in some way — you are clever enough not to let it 
get up to the Governor if this works out. You 
know what it would mean for me, after that last 
experience, if Dad were to hear of it. I will be 
most anxious to hear from you — so let me have the 

8 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

news, good or bad, as soon as possible — and in the 
meantime I'll hope for the best. 

"Your unfortunate brother, 

"Bob." 

Poor Bob! What a silly boy you are to be sure. 

To-night! (She looks at clock and observes the 
time). Well, no theatre party for ME. Papa is 
upstairs too. Well, Bob, fortune favors you thus 
far. 

(She rises and puts her cloak on back of same 
chair — and goes to telephone on table R. C. — and 
calls up). 

"Hello — Riverside 6752. Is that you Helen, 
dear? This is Eleanor — yes, Eleanor — yes. Dear, 
I'm very, very sorry, but it isn't going to be pos- 
sible for me to be one of the party to-night. No, 
I've just had a very severe headache come on — I'm 
fearfully ill; yes — I'm just as sorry as I can be — 
and I was about ready, too. It's fortunate that I 
caught you in time so as to save you driving around 
for me — so am I — dear — Yes — if I should feel bet- 
ter within an hour or so, perhaps I'll have Dickens 
drive me down. Yes — in the left-hand lower — 
No. 3 — very well. I surely will if I feel up to it. 
That's very sweet of you, dear. Oh no indeed — 
not for the world. Yes, I will — good-bye, dear." 

9 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Well, that much out of the way. 

(She goes to wall R. — presses button and Bil- 
lings appears in C. doorway. Eleanor goes over 
L. C.) 

Billings, I am expecting a caller this evening — 
a gentleman — I mean — (She has letter in her hand 
and glances at it) — a bowery sport — (Look of con- 
ster nation overspreads the face of Billings) — His 
name is Spike Puffer. Now, if Mr. Puffer does 
call do not insist on formalities but show him in im- 
mediately. That is all Billings. 

Billings 

(With astonishment.) Yes, my lady. 

(Bell rings violently and continuously — while 
Billings looks first at Eleanor and then in di- 
rection of door — the bell still ringing.) 

Eleanor 

That Might be the gentleman now Billings. 

Billings 

Yes, my lady. (Exit Billings and Eleanor 
io 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

exit up stairs. Presently Billings appears follow- 
ed by Spike. Billings stops inside of doorway R. 
Spike passes inside of him and steps slightly down 
L. Spike is dressed in a plaid suit — red necktie — 
high collar, shortly clipped black hair, ponderous 
mustache — red over-gaiters over patent leather shoes, 
large diamond in shirt front, massive watch chain, 
large diamond ring — gloves in hand — and wearing a 
silk hat — which Billings offers to take as he passes 
by him — but Spike jumps side-ways out of reach 
and square off in pugilistic attitude.) 

Billings 

You may be seated in here, sir. {Points to chat? 
in room.) Will I take your hat? 

Spike 

(Drawing away out of his reach.) Not on yer 
life — Cappie — ye don't get your "feelers" on dis 
"Lid" — so now be good — be good, Cappie — be 
good. Your stunt now is to tell de old guy that 
owns de shack as how a gent wants for to get a peep 
at him — and be quick about it too, for MISTER 
Puffer aint got no time for to be doin' de society on 

II 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Fifth Ave. Dye get me? 

(Exit Billings. Spike still keeping his hat on 
his head, goes in and looks around the room at the 
different articles of furniture, much amazed by the 
splendor of it all — remarking to himself — "Gee — 
but dis is a swell shack — on de level. His old 'pipes' 
must have plenty of de change — for sure.") 

(Enter Eleanor from upstairs. Spike does not 
see her immediately — but continues to admire and 
remark about the articles in the room until Elean- 
or finally arrests his attention by saying — "Good 
evening." 

Spike 

(L. C. down stage — Turning suddenly in her du 
rection, again partly squaring off — then removing 
his hat with a quick jerk, and replacing it on his 
head). Hullo, Sis — where's de old guy what owns 
de joint? 

Eleanor 

(Half repeating to herself) "The old guy" — 
You are Mr. Puffer? 



12 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Spike 

(Bows profusely but grotesquely) Sure, I be. 
Mister THOMAS Puffer— "Spike" Puffer to de 
trade. (Strikes pose with thumbs under sleeves of 
waist coat). De sign what's over de door of de 
place says it all — (Points as if reading sign) "Spike" 
Puffer, Treater-right of Gents" — and I'm on de 
level too — see? 

Eleanor 

(Advances to him and extends her hand) I am 
Eleanor Withington. 

Spike 

(Slightly jumping away from her and again as- 
suming a pugilistic attitude — gradually gathers him- 
self — then walks over to Eleanor, and shakes her 
hand much after the style of the prize ring — walks 
back a little ways — turns to her. Tilts his hat on 
one side of his head). Well, "Ellie" you look all 
right to me at date; I suppose you'se de sister of 
Little Willie Sweet-cap. 

Eleanor 
Of who? 

13 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Spike 

Of little Archie wid de cigarette — de boy what 
handed me de bum mazume. 

Eleanor 

If you refer to my brother Bob, then yes. He 
wrote me all about it. 

Spike 

Well, pal, you're all right at dat — but I wants 
to see de old guy, to get de dope on whether lie 
wants to hand de coarse bills for dese checks (Pro- 
ducing them.) for if he don't "come across with 
it," 111 have little Archie taken out of de spellin' 
factory and put along side of de boys what wears de 
funny clothes. 

Eleanor 

Oh I understand — you want to see Papa and have 
him redeem the checks that brother Bob gave you. 

Spike 

You guessed it de first thing — and you're clever 
at dat. 

14 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Eleanor 

Sit down, wont you Mr. Puffer? (Pointing to 
chair — and is about to sit doivn herself.) 

Spike 

(Still inclined to back away.) No, I ain't got no 
time for to do de heavy on visiting — and I aint 
strong wid de conversation. So I'll just take a run 
up de steps and see his old gum-drops for meself. 
(Starts to go towards stairs but Eleanor quickly 
puts herself between him and the stairs.) 

Eleanor 

Oh no, you must not do that. Besides Papa 
could not see you just now. Come and sit down 
Mr. Puffer, and let's you and I talk the matter over, 
and maybe I can settle it with you. 

Spike 

(Aside.) She settle it — (Laughs.) Wouldn't 
dat spill yer milk. (Walks down L. C.) Gee but 
what a pair of lamps she's got. (He comes to the 

15 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

chair where Eleanor has previously laid her opera- 
coat and sits down on the coat — while she unseen by 
him runs and tries to rescue her opera coat but is too 
late — he still having his hat on.) 

Eleanor 

Wont you let me take your hat Mr. Puffer? 

Spike 

(Reluctant to do so.) I'll let you take it but 
don't put it where dat guy wid de iancy base-ball 
suit on can get his mits on it. 

Eleanor 

Oh no, I'll put it right here where it will be very 
safe. (She puts his hat on chair near door — he 
meanwhile observing her closely — and she comes 
back and sits down). Now, Mr. Puffer, I want 
you to tell me all about this affair — how my brother 
came to give you these checks, and all about it. 
Won't you? 

Spike 

Say, see here Sis, — what are ye handing me? A 
16 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

con game of some kind. Or is this going to be a 
debatin' society? If it is, yours truly ain't dere 
wid de goods — so get wise to it — get wise to it. 

Eleanor 

Surely you haven't any objection to telling me 
the circumstances? — that is only fair; and I know 
you want to be fair with me. 

Spike 

(Aside), She'll have me all to de bad wid dem 
lamps in a minute. I'm beginning to feel lik a dirty 
deuce already. (Turning toivard her). Say on de 
level, Sis — sure I will — sure I will. (He gets up 
and goes over and again grotesquely shakes her hand 
— then goes back, turns chair around and sits on it). 
But mind you, I don't want you to give me de 
double cross — de ye see? Well, it was dis way — I 
do my business wid gents — on de square — I do — 
wid just gents — gents all — not kids — de ye see? 
And it tells it on de sign what's over de door of 
the place — in big letters "Spike Puffer, Treater 
Right of Gents." (He rises and goes through all 
the motions illustrating the recital). 

17 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

About a week ago, de ye see, one night, in comes 
Willie de Sweet Cap into de place wid three or 
four of his play-fellows, do ye get me — and dey 
all was pretty well to de bad for de steam, and de 
first thing what de does is to order up a drink all 
round — and dis is on de level lady — for I ain't 
going to hand you no double cross — for I'm going 
to give it to you dead-right. Well den dey wants 
f er to play a little poker ; and dey plays for a while, 
and de kid was all to de good on de game. 

It gives him de pranks and he gets a bit cockey, 
de ye see? So dey wants something fer to be dour 
in de big line — dey wants fer to tackle de cart- 
wheel and dey begins to bet heavy and to lose dere 
change. De rest of de bunch makes a duck and 
leaves de kid to go it alone and soon he's all in. 
Den I steps up to him and I says, says I — "Sonny 
you'd better go de hay and quit de game." But he 
wasn't dere for to hear me and it was no go. I tells 
him "Dere's nothin' doing — dere's nothin' doin' " 
— and de kid comes back at me, de ye see — he comes 
back at me! So he goes to it and when de blow-off 
comes he's all to de bad on de cashin' in, and den 
he tips it off to me who he is, and he writes de check 
and I takes de bum steer and cashes it for him de ye 
see. Den to de wheel again goes Willie — and soon 

18 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

he's all to de bad again, and I puts myself in speak- 
ing distance and yells to him to call it all off — fer 
dere's nothin' doin' — but he's fer bein' game, and 
he gets anoder of de coarse bills and gives me anoder 
piece of de bum paper — and he goes to it again, and 
soon he's all in — and den I shuts down for keeps on 
de change box and de kid makes a duck. In de 
morning I presents dese checks to de bank, and I 
gets de horse-laugh and de raspberry all at de same 
time and I finds dat I'se had de double-cross handed 
to me do ye see ? I locates Willie down in de spell- 
ing factory and I goes down and puts it up to him 
and he hands me de old phoney dope of no coin. I 
argues wid him to make good and in de blow-off I 
gets a line on de shack and he tells me de old man 
will do de heavy on cashing de bum paper and put 
me all to de good again. Now, dere's de hull story 
from start to finish and told in plain talk so you can 
understand every word of it. (He goes and sits in 
the chair again). 

Eleanor 

I think I DO understand every word of it, Mr. 
Puffer. But I want to ask you if you really think 
you did right in allowing my brother to gamble 

19 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

away this money in your place, when he was under 
the influence of liquor. 

Spike 

Nix! Nix! Nix! now Kid— NIX! What line 
of talk be ye going to hand me now? A salvation 
army song? 

Eleanor 

(She stands up and takes a step nearer to Spike.) 
No, Mr. Puffer, I am going to talk with you as 
a sister would talk — a sister who dearly loves her 
brother — as one who has the honor, the life and the 
future of another at heart. And I am sure you will 
listen to me until I tell you MY story — wont you ? 

Spike 

{Aside.) Gee but dare's something about dem 
lamps what makes me do it whether I want to or 
not. She's got me stung — she's got me stung. Say, 
sure I will, Miss — sure I will — but make it short 
and den hurry and come across wid the mazume — 
for I've got to have de two thousand — and I can't 

20 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

take no seventy-five cents words fer it neither. 

{During these lines Spike at first grows uneasy 
and restless and gradually the force of Eleanor's 
recital begins to make an impression upon him. 
While he tries to resist its effect it is obviously 
beginning to tell seriously with him. Then before 
she is through it has worked a complete psychological 
change in Spike culminating in his reformation.) 

Eleanor 

I do not suppose that anything I may say to you 
will appeal to your sympathies nor make you fully 
understand the subject of which I shall speak. Nor 
will what I shall say be said in the sense of trying 
to evade the payment of a debt — for to do that 
would be a breach of honor — and honor is of what 
I wish to speak. When I speak of "sympathy," I 
mean rather that sympathy which exists between 
the members of a family brought up in the atmos- 
phere of love and affection; where the interests of 
one are the interests of the other; where what con- 
cerns one, concerns all; where the same joys, the 
same sorrows are shared by each one alike — where 
even so small a thing as the breaking of a little toy 
is of almost as much concern, in the world I speak 

21 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

of, as taking of a human life, in the world to 
which I shall contrast it. I realize that all of this 
will be strange to you — absurd — nonsensical — ri- 
diculous; for yours is the life, the existence of a 
totally different world. A world far removed from 
everything where peace and happiness and content- 
ment abide; — a world where contentions and strifes 
abound — where children are often conceived in sin, 
baptized in inhumanity and harshness, reared in bru- 
tality and crime and taught to believe that life's 
goal is the mastery of distorted principles and vice; 
where they are taught to believe that everything that 
is decent, everything that is superior, everything that 
is virtuous — is a common and legitimate victim of 
illegal traffic. And so when I speak to you of this 
love of OURS — this affection for one another, this 
consideration and love for our own — and what it 
really means, I cannot wonder at it that you will 
regard it lightly and look upon it as trivial and silly. 
You must understand too that I do not speak of 
YOUR world without having had actual experience 
within it and among the class of people that dwell 
in it. Because, for five years I was a daily visitor 
there, ministering to the wants of the poor and 
afflicted and the sick and the needy and the abandon- 
ed. And I DO know that once in a while during 

22 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

this experience of mine I found a nature that was 
foreign to its surroundings — a life here and there 
that was being stifled in the atmosphere in which 
it existed. But such cases were rare indeed. 

Spike 

(As if trying to throw off the effect it has pro- 
duced.) Say kid — you can't get by wid dat stuff — 
I want my money. 

Eleanor 

Oh Please try to understand that it is not my pur- 
pose to ask you any favor in the matter of cancel- 
ling this obligation — for I mean that you shall be 
paid in full for this debt of my brother. I do want to 
appeal to you, however, and ask you if you will 
not some time think over it in the hope that you 
might realize that you are doing a great wrong in 
carrying on this traffic — a traffic which is daily ruin- 
ing many lives that otherwise would be useful lives 
— lives that are so dear and so precious to someone 
— somewhere. The sign over your door which as 
you say reads " Spike Puffer, Treater-right of 
Gents' ' — reads instead " Young lives ruined — and 

23 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

Hearts broken here" — for that is what it in re- 
ality says — and in letters of fire. But YOU do not 
think of these things. I know that you do not know 
how much it means to mothers, to sisters, to fath- 
ers — to those who hold these lives that you do so 
much to ruin and blight. But maybe you WILL 
sometime think it over — and who knows — maybe 
the time will come when the light will shine through 
all this horrible gloom — As a Light From Anoth- 
er World — and show you what a great wrong it 
is after all. I know that your kind of people are 
not all without feeling. I know that sometime 
they DO have love and affection, and that some- 
times their love and affection is as pure and noble 
as any love can be. 

Spike 

(Aside and in deep earnest). Yes — dat's so — 
sometimes dey do. 

Eleanor 

I remember one case during my ministrations and 
work in those settlements — a family of four — the 
father, mother, a brother and a sister. It was the 

24 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

oft-repeated story with them — the father sent to 
prison, the mother, sickly and worn out by sorrow 
and toil going at length to her well-earned peace- 
ful rest — the first, really, she had ever known — 
leaving the brother and the sister alone. I remem- 
ber the sister — a sweet little girl of fourteen — and 
the brother, a boy of sixteen her only support. And 
how that brother did love his little sister! No af- 
fection could have been stronger and no love great- 
er than his. His sister was his first thought in all 
things; and no sacrifice was too great for him to 
make in order that she might be comfortable and 
happy. But, alas, she was a flower too tender to 
survive the chilling winds that prevailed there, and 
to live in an atmosphere that could give her no sus- 
tenance — and so she faded away, day by day — and 
we all were helpless. Her's was indeed a sweet 
nature and a beautiful character. I grew to be very 
fond of her. I visited her every day for a long time. 
One morning, in the early autumn when the leaves 
were turning — when the flowers were withering — 
when all the nature was beginning to die — she be- 
gan to die too — and so she left us, and the brother's 
heart was broken — for all that he loved on earth 
had gone away. He could not be consoled. He grew 
hardened in the midst of his surroundings and he 

25 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

finally adopted the life that was everywhere around 
him. 

I speak of this so you will understand that I feel 
something might possibly be accomplished in the 
direction I speak of. I will be contented if you 
will even sometime think on what I have told you 
of the mothers, the fathers and the sisters and the 
brothers that often suffer so much and who are 
made to thus suffer through wanton indifference to 
<vhat concerns them most. 

Now, I desire to arrange to pay you the amount 
of these checks. 

Spike 

(Rises). Who has gradually become interested 
and absorbed in what was being said and visibly af- 
fected by it and who is now thoroughly conquered) . 
Say lady — hold on for a minute — don't talk of dat 
fer just a minute. You'se pretty near done de 
business wid me — dats what youVe done — pretty 
near done de business. Besides, I ain't long on de 
conversation, and besides dat I can't put up no talk 
for to tell you much about it — for I ain't never had 
no show at spellin' and such — But I do know that 
once before I seen a lady like you — and she was kind 

26 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

too — just like you was to dat little sis — it just done 
de business wid me — dat's what it done — just about 
done de business. For I had a little sis once — and 
•he was about all dere was in it for me — and she 
took sick and died too — just like dat other one — 
what you tell about — and dis same lady what I tells 
you about was HER friend — and when little sis 
died I never seen dat lady no more after dat at all 
— nd I'd of just took right out my heart for her, 
for what she done for my little sis — dat's what I 
would have done — just took it right out for her — 

Eleanor 

Ah, if you thought as much of your sister as this 
brother thought of his "Little Bo-Peep" as he called 



Spike 

{In astonishment). Bo-Peep! {Inaudible whis- 
per). Why — dat was de very thing what I called 
MY sister — and — you — why you — are dat very 
lady. {He is so overcome by emotion that he can- 
not speak — nor does he know just what to do to ex- 
press his great awe and reverence for Eleanor; 

27 



A LIGHT FROM ANOTHER WORLD 

he is standing behind her, and falls on one knee, 
kisses the hem of her gown — repeating to himself — 
in an audible whisper). "You are dat very lady" — 
(he rises j looks at Eleanor in awe, slowly takes out 
checks from his pocket — tears them in two, walks 
over and puts them on table). Dere dey be, lady — 
(choking with emotion) dere dey be, lady — (He 
walks towards the door, then turns). And besides 
dat, lady — God bless you — and God bless your 
brother Bob — and God bless your father too — God 
bless you most of all — (He goes near door, takes 
his hat and as he is about to go into hall) and 
besides — I'm going to take down de sign what's 
over de door of de place — fer dere ain't going to 
be no more Spike Puffer's place — for I'm tru wid 
de hull game! (Exits. Eleanor goes and rings 
bell — Billings appears). 

Eleanor 

(Goes C. looks at clock). Billings, you may say 
to Dickens that I will drive to the theatre. (She 
takes her coat from chair, and is about to exit). 

CURTAIN 
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